Withdrawal from Courses for Non-Attendance

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Withdrawal from Courses for Non-Attendance

Authority:

Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management

Date enacted or revised:

Dec 2, 2013; Revised April 2016

Purpose:

The University recognizes that students who regularly attend and actively participate in classes taught in face to face format or online are more likely to succeed; therefore, McNeese expects students to attend classes regularly and punctually and to be prepared for class meetings. Attendance for online students is considered to be logging into class discussions and otherwise participating in class activities. Failure of a student to attend classes may result in withdrawal from the course for non-attendance, may jeopardize a student's scholastic standing, and may lead to suspension from the University. This policy details the regulations regarding withdrawal from courses for non-attendance.

Policy:

If a student receives unexcused absences in excess of ten percent of total classes, an instructor may assign a ‘WN’ (withdrawal for non-attendance) as a final grade. Additionally, if a student’s excused and unexcused absences exceed forty percent of total classes, an instructor may assign a ‘WN’ as a final grade.

Because individual instructors may or may not choose to implement this policy, a student who stops attending classes or participating in e-learning activities for online classes should not assume that a ‘WN’ will automatically be assigned.

Instructors using the withdrawal for non-attendance policy must clearly state so in the course syllabus and must either supply students with a copy of the policy or provide the web link through which students can access the policy online. The course syllabus must be distributed during the first week of the semester.

Students are responsible for understanding attendance expectations as noted in the syllabus for each class in which they are enrolled; they are responsible for monitoring their own status with regard to absences and should communicate with their instructors as to whether specific absences are excused or unexcused. Students who do not comply with the withdrawal for non-attendance policy in a class in which the instructor has opted to implement it may receive a grade of ‘WN’ despite any other grades earned in that class.

A course withdrawal fee of $50 is assessed for every ‘WN’ grade assigned. This per course fee is automatically charged to the student’s account when the ‘WN’ grade is assigned.

Recipients of Federal financial aid should contact the Office of Financial Aid and consult the section of the catalog concerning financial aid to understand the implications of withdrawals for non-attendance on funding and the repayment of funding received. Students should also understand that failure to attend class may have a negative impact on TOPS eligibility, private insurance coverage, tax status, or other financial assistance.

Communication:

This policy is communicated through the Academic Advisory Council, Administrative Advisory Council, the University Policy Page, and the Academic Catalog.

See also: Withdraw from Courses and Resignation from the University Policy